Decorative cover for flower pot or floral grouping formed of polymeric materials having a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of paper

ABSTRACT

A decorative cover positionable about a flower pot or floral grouping is formed of a polymeric material or a laminated polymeric material. The decorative cover has a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper. In addition to the texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of paper, the decorative cover may further be provided with printed and/or embossed patterns, which may be in or out of register with one another.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/930,339, filedOct. 31, 2007, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.11/239,990, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now abandoned; which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 10/619,696, filed Jul. 15, 2003, now abandoned; whichis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/891,315, filed Jun. 26, 2001, nowabandoned; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/234,794filed Jan. 20, 1999, now abandoned; which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Ser. No. 09/098,898 filed Jun. 17, 1998, now abandoned; whichclaims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. provisional applicationSer. No. 60/050,867, filed Jun. 26, 1997. The entire contents of each ofthe above-referenced patents and patent applications are herebyexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates topolymeric materials having a texture or appearance simulating paper, andmore particularly but not by way of limitation, to decorative coverspositionable about flower pots and floral groupings made from suchpolymeric materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet of polymeric material having atexture or appearance simulating paper constructed in accordance withthe presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s), one corner ofthe sheet of polymeric material upwardly turned.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet of polymeric material having atexture or appearance simulating paper of FIG. 1 having a bondingmaterial disposed along one edge thereof, one corner of the sheet ofpolymeric material upwardly turned.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet of polymeric material having atexture or appearance simulating paper of FIG. 2 having a floralgrouping disposed thereon.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floral grouping of FIG. 3 beingwrapped with the sheet of polymeric material having a texture orappearance simulating paper of FIG. 2 by one method of wrapping.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a decorative cover for the floralgrouping formed from the sheet of polymeric material having a texture orappearance simulating paper of FIG. 2 wherein the decorative coverformed from the sheet of polymeric material has a conical configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a decorative cover for the floralgrouping formed from the sheet of polymeric material having a texture orappearance simulating paper of FIG. 2 wherein the decorative cover has asubstantially cylindrical configuration.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a decorative cover positioned about aflower pot wherein the decorative cover is formed from the sheet ofpolymeric material having a texture or appearance simulating paper ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of a flower pot coverformer and band applicator apparatus having the sheet of polymericmaterial having a texture or appearance simulating paper of FIG. 1disposed above an opening of the flower pot cover former and bandapplicator and having a flower pot disposed above the sheet of polymericmaterial having a texture or appearance simulating paper.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a sheet of expanded core polymeric filmhaving a texture or appearance simulating paper wherein an acrylic heatsealable lacquer is disposed on at least one surface thereof, one cornerof the sheet of expanded core polymeric film being upwardly turned.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a laminated sheet of material whereinone surface is modified or textured to provide the sheet of laminatedmaterial with a texture or appearance simulating paper, one corner ofthe laminated sheet of material being upwardly turned.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preformed pot cover formed from asheet of polymeric material having a texture or appearance simulatingpaper.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the preformed pot cover of FIG. 10having a flower pot disposed therein.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic, cross-sectional view of a male and femalemold having a sheet of polymeric material having a texture or appearancesimulating paper disposed therebetween for forming the preformed potcover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a floral sleeve formed from the sheetof polymeric material having a texture or appearance simulating paper.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 13 disposedabout a floral grouping.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a floral sleeve having a cinchingmember wherein the floral sleeve is formed from a sheet of polymericmaterial having a texture or appearance simulating paper.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the floral sleeve of FIG. 15 disposedabout a floral grouping.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a sleeve having a detachable portion whereinthe sleeve is formed from a sheet of polymeric material having a textureor appearance simulating paper.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 17 having a flowerpot disposed therein.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a flower pot disposed in the sleeve ofFIG. 17 wherein an upper portion of the sleeve has been removed toprovide a decorative cover having a skirt.

FIG. 20A is a perspective view of a polymeric ribbon material having atexture or appearance simulating paper.

FIG. 20B is a perspective view of a polymeric ribbon material formed ofan expanded core polymeric film having a texture or appearancesimulating paper.

FIG. 20C is a perspective view of a laminated polymeric ribbon whereinat least one surface of the laminated polymeric ribbon is modified ortextured to provide the laminated polymeric ribbon with a texture orappearance simulating paper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT(S)

Decorative covers for flower pots and floral groupings formed of paperare well known in the art and have been used for several years fordecorative purposes. When such decorative covers are formed of paper,the paper may be colored and may be provided with a decorative patternprinted and/or embossed thereon to enhance the decorative appearance ofthe decorative covers formed therefrom. The paper decorative covers ofthe prior art, however, are sensitive to water and humidity as well aspressure placed thereon, and unless the paper from which the decorativecover is formed is treated, several undesired characteristics andfeatures are observed. For example, the paper may become discolored, oran ink disposed on the paper to provide the decorative appearance of thepaper may smear or run, thereby distorting or destroying the decorativeappearance of the decorative cover and possibly staining a surface onwhich the decorative cover is disposed or displayed. In addition,exposure to stressors such as water and pressure can leave the papermore sensitive to tearing, which also distorts or destroys thedecorative appearance of a decorative cover formed therefrom.

To overcome the disadvantages of paper, decorative covers have also beenformed of polymeric film. While the polymeric film is more durable andnot as sensitive to water, humidity and pressure as paper, the visiblecharacteristics of polymeric film include a sheen which can readily bedetected as polymeric film, and polymeric film does not have the softfeel or texture of paper which may be desired.

While the prior art methods of forming decorative covers for flower potsand floral groupings from paper or polymeric film have been widelyaccepted, new and improved methods for making decorative covers havingthe visible characteristics of paper, such as the texture or appearanceof paper, and the physical characteristics of polymeric film, such asimproved durability and decreased sensitivity to water, humidity andpressure when compared to paper, are being sought. It is to suchdecorative covers and methods for making same that the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is directed.

Description of FIGS. 1-9

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 is a sheet or web of polymeric material having a texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper (hereinafterreferred to as the sheet of polymeric material 10 or the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper). That is, at least a portion of onesurface of the sheet of polymeric material 10 has been modified toprovide a matte or textured finish which provides the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper. The term“texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper” isused interchangeably herein with the terms “texture or appearancesimulating paper”, “matte or textured finish simulating the texture orappearance of paper”, and “appearance of being fabricated of paper”. Itis to be understood that the sheet of polymeric material 10 may beprovided with both a texture and appearance simulating the texture andappearance of paper.

While the sheet of polymeric material 10 is provided with visiblecharacteristics simulating paper on at least a portion of one surfacethereof, such as the texture or appearance 12 simulating the texture orappearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof, thesheet of polymeric material 10 maintains the physical characteristics ofthe polymer from which the sheet of polymeric material 10 is formed,that is, the sheet of polymeric material 10 maintains the mechanical andstructural characteristics of the polymer, such as increased durabilityand decreased sensitivity to water, humidity and pressure as compared topaper. In other words, at least a portion of one surface of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 looks like paper while the entire sheet ofpolymeric material 10 behaves like polymeric material, and the textureor appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper isprovided for a decorative purpose rather than a functional one.

The modification of the sheet of polymeric material 10 to provide thesheet of polymeric material 10 with a matte or textured finish whichprovides the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper in texture orappearance can be accomplished in several ways. For example, a mattefinish can be provided by printing a desired pattern on the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 and thereafter laminating a matte material, suchas a translucent polymeric film, over the printed pattern. To furtherenhance the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10, the matte material may or may not have aplurality of spatially disposed holes extending therethrough. A matte ortextured finish can also be produced by printing a sheet of polymericmaterial 10 with a matted (i.e., dull finish) ink, by lacquering atleast one surface of the sheet of polymeric material 10 with a dullfinish lacquer or a matting lacquer, by embossing the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 to provide an embossed pattern simulating the texture ofpaper, or by embossing and printing the sheet of polymeric material 10to provide embossed and printed patterns having the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper wherein theembossed and printed patterns may be in registry, out of registry, orwherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in registryand a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of registry.A matte or textured finish capable of providing the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 with the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper can alsobe achieved by extruding a polymeric resin onto a matted or texturedchill roll or by laminating a second sheet of material to the sheet ofpolymeric material 10. A matte or textured finish capable of providingthe sheet of polymeric material 10 with the texture or appearance 12simulating paper can also be achieved through the use of selectedpigments, such as TiO₂.

The sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12simulating paper has an upper surface 14, a lower surface 16, and anouter peripheral edge 18. At least one surface of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10, such as the lower surface 16, is matted or textured asdescribed above to provide the sheet of polymeric material 10 with thetexture or appearance 12 simulating paper. The outer peripheral edge 18of the sheet of polymeric material 10 comprises a first side 20, asecond side 22, a third side 24, and a fourth side 26. A bondingmaterial 27 (FIG. 2) may be disposed on at least a portion of one orboth of the upper and lower surfaces 14 and 16 of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10, such as the upper surface 14 thereof as shown and asfurther illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,364, issued Jan. 26, 1993 toWeder and entitled “WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVINGADHESIVE OR COHESIVE MATERIAL APPLIED THERETO”, the Specification ofwhich is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

The sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12simulating paper may be employed to provide a decorative cover for afloral grouping (FIGS. 3 through 6) or a decorative cover for a flowerpot (FIG. 7); to form a preformed flower pot cover for covering a flowerpot (FIGS. 10 and 11); to provide a sleeve for wrapping or covering afloral grouping (FIGS. 13 through 16) or a flower pot (FIGS. 17 through19); or to provide a ribbon material (FIGS. 20A through 20C). The use ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10 to form a decorative cover for afloral grouping or a flower pot wherein the decorative cover is providedwith a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper, or to form a sleeve for a floral grouping or a flower pot whereinthe sleeve is provided with a texture or appearance simulating thetexture or appearance of paper, or to form a preformed flower pot coverhaving a texture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper, or as a ribbon material having a texture or appearance simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper will be described in more completedetail herein.

As noted above, the sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper can beutilized to form a decorative cover for a floral grouping or a flowerpot. The term “flower pot” as used herein refers to any type ofcontainer for holding a floral grouping, or a plant, or even anotherpot-type container. Examples of flower pots and/or pot-type containersinclude, but are not limited to, clay pots, wooden pots, plastic pots,pots made from natural and/or synthetic fibers, or any combinationthereof. Such flower pots and or pot-type containers are provided with aretaining space for receiving a floral grouping. The floral grouping maybe disposed within the retaining space of the flower pot with a suitablegrowing medium described in further detail below, or other retainingmedium, such as a floral foam. It will also be understood that in somecases the floral grouping, and any appropriate growing medium or otherretaining medium, may be disposed in a sleeve formed from the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 if the sleeve is adapted to contain a medium.

“Floral grouping” as used herein includes cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, a single flower or other fresh and/or artificial plants orother floral materials and may include other secondary plants and/orornamentation or artificial or natural materials which add to theaesthetics of the overall floral grouping. Further, the floral groupingmay comprise a growing potted plant having a root portion as well.However, it will be appreciated that the floral grouping may consist ofonly a single bloom or only foliage, or a botanical item (not shown), ora propagule. The term “floral grouping” may be used interchangeablyherein with the term “floral arrangement”. The term “floral grouping”may also be used interchangeably herein with the terms “botanical item”and/or “propagule.”

The term “growing medium” when used herein includes any liquid, solid orgaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivation ofpropagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients,fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plantsor propagules for growth.

The term “botanical item” when used herein refers to a natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plant, taken singularly or incombination. The term “botanical item” also includes any portion orportions of natural or artificial herbaceous or woody plants includingstems, leaves, flowers, blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, takensingularly or in combination, or in groupings of such portions such asbouquets or floral groupings.

The term “propagule” when used herein refers to any structure capable ofbeing propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds,shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper intexture or appearance is square. It will be appreciated, however, thatthe sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12simulating paper in texture or appearance can be of any shape,configuration or size as long as the sheet of polymeric material 10 issufficiently sized and shaped to wrap and encompass a floral grouping ora flower pot. For example, the sheet of polymeric material 10 may have arectangular, round, oval, octagonal or asymmetrical shape. Further,multiple sheets of the polymeric material 10 may be used in a singlecircumstance to provide a decorative cover or sleeve for a floralgrouping or a flower pot. Moreover, when multiple sheets of thepolymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulatingpaper in texture or appearance are used in combination, the sheets ofpolymeric material 10 need not be uniform in size or shape. Finally, itwill be appreciated that the sheet of polymeric material 10 having thetexture or appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of papershown herein is a substantially flat sheet except for the texturing,matting, embossing, flocking, application of a foamable lacquer orfoamable ink, or other treatments and techniques employed to provide thesheet of polymeric material 10 with the desired texture or matting sothat the sheet of polymeric material 10 has the texture or appearance 12simulating the texture or appearance of paper.

Any thickness or stiffness of the sheet of polymeric material 10 may beutilized in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) as long as the sheet of polymeric material 10 canbe modified to provide the sheet of polymeric material with the textureor appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper and thesheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12simulating paper can be wrapped about at least a portion of a floralgrouping or a flower pot to form a decorative cover for the floralgrouping or the flower pot, or formed into a preformed flower pot coverfor covering a flower pot, or a sleeve for wrapping or covering a floralgrouping or a flower pot, or to provide a ribbon. Generally, the sheetof polymeric material 10 will have a thickness of from about 0.1 mil toabout 30 mil, and more desirably a thickness of from about 0.5 mil toabout 10 mil.

The terms “polymer film”, “polymeric film” and “polymeric material” whenused herein refer to a synthetic polymer such as polypropylene orpolyethylene, a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane, anextruded polymeric material having an expanded core such as extrudedpolypropylene having an expanded core and combinations thereof. Theextruded polymeric material having an expanded core may also be referredto herein as an expanded core polymeric material.

“Extruded polymeric material having an expanded core” or “expanded corepolymeric film” as used herein includes any extrudable polymericmaterial or polymeric film in which the core is expanded duringextrusion, such as by incorporation of a blowing agent in the polymericresin which is being extruded.

The sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12simulating the texture or appearance of paper may also be constructed,in whole or in part, from a cling material. “Cling material” when usedherein includes any material which is capable of connecting to the sheetof material and/or itself upon contacting engagement during the wrappingprocess and is wrappable about an item, whereby portions of the clingmaterial contactingly engage and connect to other portions of anothermaterial, or, alternatively, itself, for generally securing the materialwrapped about at least a portion of a flower pot. This connectingengagement is preferably temporary in that the material may be easilyremoved, i.e., the cling material “clings” to the flower pot.

The cling material is constructed from polyethylene such as Cling Wrapmade by Glad®, First Brands Corporation, Danbury, Connecticut and may betreated if necessary. The thickness of the cling material will, in part,depend upon the size of sleeve and the size of the flower pot in thesleeve, i.e., generally, a larger flower pot may require a thicker andtherefore stronger cling material. The cling material will range inthickness from about 0.1 mil to about 10 mil, and more desirably fromabout 0.5 mil to about 2.5 mil. However, any thickness of cling materialmay be utilized in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) which permits the cling material to be modified ashereinbefore described to provide the cling material with a texture orappearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper.

A decorative cover for a floral grouping (FIGS. 3 through 6), or adecorative cover for a flower pot (FIG. 7), or a preformed flower potcover for covering a flower pot (FIGS. 10 and 11), or a sleeve forwrapping or covering a floral grouping (FIGS. 14 and 16) or a flower pot(FIGS. 17 through 19), or a ribbon material (FIGS. 20A through 20C) mayalso be constructed of a laminated material having a texture orappearance simulating paper in texture or appearance (FIG. 9B), whereinthe texture or appearance simulating paper provides a decorativeappearance to the decorative cover, preformed flower pot cover, sleeveor ribbon material while maintaining the structural and mechanicalcharacteristics of the polymeric material from which the laminatedmaterial is formed. The laminated material having a texture orappearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be producedby laminating two or more sheets of polymeric film (such as two or moresheets of polypropylene film or a sheet of polypropylene film and asheet of expanded core polymeric film, such as expanded corepolypropylene film), or by laminating a polymeric film (such aspolypropylene film or an expanded core polymeric film) to metallizedfilm, foil and the like wherein at least one surface of the laminatedmaterial is textured or modified to simulate the texture or appearanceof paper. The only requirements in using a laminated material having atexture or appearance simulating paper in texture or appearance to forma decorative cover for a floral grouping, a decorative cover for aflower pot, a preformed flower pot cover for covering a flower pot, asleeve for wrapping or covering a floral grouping or a flower pot, or asribbon material in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) is that at least a portion of one surface of thelaminated material be capable of being modified to provide the laminatedmaterial with at least a portion of one surface having a texture orappearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper, that thelaminated material be sufficiently flexible or pliable to permit thelaminated material to be formed into a decorative cover, a preformedflower pot cover, a sleeve, or ribbon material, and that the decorativecover, preformed flower pot cover, sleeve or ribbon material formedtherefrom maintains the structural and mechanical characteristics of thepolymeric material from which the laminated material is formed. Itshould also be noted that two or more separate sheets of polymericmaterial can be used to form a decorative cover for a floral grouping,or a decorative cover for a flower pot, or a preformed flower pot coverfor covering a flower pot, or a sleeve for wrapping or covering a floralgrouping or a flower pot as long as one of the sheets of polymericmaterial is modified or textured to provide same with a texture orappearance simulating paper.

The sheet of polymeric material 10 or a laminated material (FIG. 9B)having the texture or appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearanceof paper may vary in color. Further, at least a portion of one of theupper and lower surfaces 14 and 16 of the sheet of polymeric material 10or a laminated material may be provided with other decorative patternsor designs in addition to the matting, texturing, flocking, applicationof lacquers or foamable inks, or embossing employed to impart apaper-like texture or appearance to the sheet of polymeric material 10or the laminated material wherein such decorative patterns or designsenhance the overall aesthetic characteristics of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10. Such decorative patterns may include a printed patternand/or an embossed pattern, and when used in combination, the printedand embossed patterns may be in or out of registry with one another, ora portion of the printed and embossed patterns may be in registry withone another and a portion of the printed and embossed patterns may beout of registry with one another.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheet of polymeric material 10 has a width30 extending generally between the first side 20 and the second side 22,respectively, sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of polymeric material10 can be wrapped about and encompass a floral grouping or a flower pot.The sheet of polymeric material 10 has a length 32 extending generallybetween the third side 24 and the fourth side 26, respectively,sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of polymeric material 10 extendsover a substantial portion of the floral grouping when the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 has been wrapped about the floral grouping inaccordance with the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s), as described in detail herein. The sheet of polymericmaterial 10 may also be wrapped about a flower pot to substantially wrapand cover the flower pot in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s).

A plurality of sheets of polymeric material 10 having the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper may beconnected together to form a roll as is shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,459,976, issued to Weder et al on Oct. 24, 1995, entitled “MATERIALAND ADHESIVE STRIP DISPENSER”, the Specification of which is herebyexpressly incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the use of the sheet of polymeric material 10having the texture or appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearanceof paper for wrapping a floral grouping 34 to provide a decorative cover36 having a texture or appearance simulating paper on at least a portionof one surface thereof (FIG. 5) for the floral grouping 34 wherein thedecorative cover 36 is provided with a decorative appearance (i.e., thetexture or appearance simulating paper) while maintaining the structuraland mechanical characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material 10 hasan open upper end 38 and a lower end 40. The sheet of polymeric material10 may optionally have the strip of bonding material 27 disposed uponthe upper surface 14, the lower surface 16 or both, such as the strip ofbonding material 27 disposed along at least a portion of the uppersurface 14 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 so that the strip ofbonding material 27 is disposed substantially adjacent the fourth side26 thereof substantially as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, the sheetof polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper can be provided either as anindividual sheet or from a pad or roll of material.

The bonding material 27, if present, may have a backing or release strip(not shown). The backing or release strip may be left applied for aperiod of time to the bonding material 27 after it is disposed on asurface of the sheet of polymeric material 10 prior to its use as awrapping material in order to protect the bonding qualities of the stripof bonding material 27.

In operation, an operator may dispose the sheet of polymeric material 10having the texture or appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearanceof paper on a support surface (not shown) whereby the lower surface 16of the sheet of polymeric material 10 (which has been modified toprovide the sheet of polymeric material 10 with the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper) contactsthe support surface. Referring more specifically to FIGS. 3-5, thefloral grouping 34 is placed upon the upper surface 14 of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 in a diagonal orientation. The floral grouping 34has an upper bloom or foliage portion 42 and a lower stem portion 44.The sheet of polymeric material 10 is then wrapped about the floralgrouping 34 by the operator (FIGS. 4 and 5), the operator overlapping aportion of the sheet of polymeric material 10 over another portion ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10. That is, for example, the operatorplaces the first side 20 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 over thefloral grouping 34, as shown in FIG. 4. The operator continues to rollthe floral grouping 34 and the sheet of polymeric material 10 in thedirection toward the second side 22 of the sheet of polymeric material10 until the upper surface 14 adjacent to fourth side 26 firmly engagesthe lower surface 16 of the sheet of polymeric material 10, wherein thefloral grouping 34 is substantially encompassed by the sheet ofpolymeric material 10, and wherein the bonding material 27 on the uppersurface 14 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 contacts the lowersurface 16 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 to provide thedecorative cover 36 having the texture or appearance 12 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper which substantially encompasses andsurrounds a substantial portion of the floral grouping 34. FIG. 5 showsthe floral grouping 34 wrapped in a conical fashion to provide thedecorative cover 36 for the floral grouping 34 wherein the decorativecover 36 has the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper. When thefloral grouping 34 is wrapped in a conical fashion, the bloom portion 42of the floral grouping 34 is exposed substantially adjacent the openupper end 38 of the decorative cover 36, and the stem portion 44 of thefloral grouping 34 is exposed substantially adjacent the lower end 40 ofthe decorative cover 36.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6, the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper intexture or appearance is utilized to wrap the floral grouping 34 in acylindrical fashion. The floral grouping 34 is disposed upon the sheetof polymeric material 10 approximately parallel to the third side 24 ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10. The sheet of polymeric material 10is wrapped generally about the stem portion 44 of the floral grouping 34to a position wherein the fourth side 26 of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 generally overlaps the third side 24 of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 in a cylindrical fashion. It should be noted thatthe sheet of polymeric material 10 may be wrapped a plurality of timesabout the stem portion 44 of the floral grouping 34 before theoverlapping of the third side 24 and the fourth side 26 of the sheet ofpolymeric material 10. As before, the portion of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 near the fourth side 26 is disposed generally adjacentanother portion of the sheet of polymeric material 10, and the twoadjacent portions then are brought into contact where they may bebondingly engaged, thereby securing the sheet of polymeric material 10generally about the floral grouping 34 so as to provide a decorativecover 36 a having the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper for thefloral grouping 34. The decorative cover 36 a is provided with adecorative appearance (i.e., the texture or appearance 12 simulatingpaper) while maintaining the structural and mechanical characteristicsof the sheet of polymeric material 10 from which the decorative cover 36a is formed.

In another version of the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s), the sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper may be usedto wrap a flower pot or pot-type container, as noted above. Shown inFIG. 7 is a flower pot designated by the reference numeral 50 having anopen upper end 52, a bottom end 54, an outer peripheral surface 56, andan inner retaining space 58 within which may be disposed a growingmedium. The flower pot 50 may contain a botanical item, such as a plant60, which has an upper portion 62 comprising blooms or foliage or both.

The sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12simulating the texture or appearance of paper may be wrapped about theflower pot 50 by any one of numerous methods used to wrap sheets ofmaterial about flower pots to form decorative pot covers for flowerpots, such as a decorative cover 61 having the texture or appearance 12simulating the texture or appearance of paper disposed about the flowerpot 50 illustrated in FIG. 7. The sheet of polymeric material 10 havingthe texture or appearance 12 simulating paper may, for example, beformed by hand about the outer peripheral surface 56 of the flower pot50 to produce the decorative cover 61 which has the appearance of beingfabricated of paper. The decorative cover 61 can then be secured aboutthe flower pot 50 by a bonding material or by an elastic band 64 suchthat the open upper end 52 of the flower pot 50 remains substantiallyuncovered by the decorative cover 61, substantially as shown in FIG. 7.The decorative cover 61 is provided with a decorative appearance (i.e.,the texture or appearance 12 simulating paper) while maintaining thestructural and mechanical characteristics of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 from which the decorative cover 61 is formed.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a flower pot cover former and band applicatordevice 66 for forming the sheet of polymeric material 10 having atexture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper intothe decorative cover 61 for the flower pot 50 of FIG. 7 is illustrated.The flower pot cover former and band applicator device 66 comprises aband applicator 68 and a flower pot cover former 70. The flower potcover former and band applicator device 66 has a support platform 72with an opening 74 formed therein. A band, such as the elastic band 64,is disposed circumferentially about the opening 74 in the supportplatform 72.

The lower surface 16 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 (which hasbeen modified to provide the sheet of polymeric material 10 with thetexture or appearance 12 simulating paper in texture or appearance) ispositioned on an upper surface 76 on the support platform 72 such thatthe sheet of polymeric material 10 is positioned over the opening 74 inthe support platform 72. The flower pot 50 is positioned above the sheetof polymeric material 10 and is moved in a direction 78 into the opening74 of the flower pot cover former and band applicator device 66. As theflower pot 50 is moved into the opening 74, the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 is pressed about the outer peripheral surface 56 of theflower pot 50 thereby forming the decorative cover 61 having the textureor appearance 12 simulating paper about the flower pot 50. Thedecorative cover 61, which has the texture or appearance 12 simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper, is then secured about the flower pot50 by the elastic band 64. The flower pot 50 having the decorative cover61 secured thereto is then moved in a direction 80 out of the opening 74in the support platform 72.

The elastic band 64 can be applied manually or automatically such as bythe method shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,599 issued to Weder et al. onApr. 21, 1992, entitled “Means For Securing A Decorative Cover About AFlower Pot”, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.The band 64 can also be applied as a tie using a method such asdescribed in “Single Station Covering and Fastening System”, U.S. Pat.No. 5,609,009, issued to Weder et al. on Mar. 11, 1997, theSpecification of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference. The sheet of polymeric material 10 having the texture orappearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper can also beapplied automatically about the flower pot 50, for example, by methodsshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,521, issued to Weder et al on Mar. 29, 1988and entitled “Cover Forming Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,721,issued to Weder et al on Mar. 8, 1994, entitled “Cover Forming ApparatusHaving Pivoting Forming Members”, both of which are hereby expresslyincorporated herein by reference.

Instead of securing the decorative cover 61 about the flower pot 50 viathe elastic band 64, the decorative cover 61 formed from the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper may be secured to the flower pot 50 bythe use of one or more bonding materials. For example, the upper surface14 of the sheet of polymeric material 10 may have a bonding material,such as the bonding material 27, disposed upon a portion thereof. Whenthe sheet of polymeric material 10 is disposed about the flower pot 50,at least a portion of the upper surface 14 of the sheet of polymericmaterial 10 contacts the outer peripheral surface 56 of the flower pot50 and is thereby bonded and held about the flower pot 50 via thebonding material.

The bonding material 27 may cover a portion of the upper surface 14 ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10, or the bonding material 27 mayentirely cover the upper surface 14 of the sheet of polymeric material10. The bonding material 27 may be disposed on the upper surface 14 ofthe sheet of polymeric material 10 in the form of a strip or in the formof spaced-apart spots. One method for disposing the bonding material 27on the sheet of polymeric material 10 is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,111,637, entitled “Method For Wrapping A Floral Grouping”, issued toWeder, et al. on May 12, 1992, which is expressly incorporated herein byreference.

The term “bonding material” when used herein can refer to an adhesive,frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive or anyadhesive/cohesive combination having adhesive qualities (i.e., qualitiesof adhesion or adhesion/cohesion, respectively) sufficient to cause theattachment of a portion of the sheet of polymeric material 10 to itself,to the floral grouping 34, or to the flower pot 50. Since the bondingmaterial 27 may comprise either an adhesive or an adhesive/cohesivecombination, it will be appreciated that both adhesives and cohesive areknown in the art, and both are commercially available. When the bondingmaterial 27 is a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed onthe adjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engagingwith the cohesive material.

The term “bonding material” also includes materials which are heatsealable and, in this instance, the adjacent portions of the materialmust be brought into contact and then heat must be applied to effect theseal. The term “bonding material” also includes materials which aresonically sealable and vibratory sealable. The term “bonding material”when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt materialwhich may be applied to the material and, in this instance, heat, soundwaves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect the sealing.

The term “bonding material” when used herein also includes any type ofmaterial or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connectingof the two adjacent portions of the sheet of polymeric material 10 toeffect the connection or bonding described herein. The term “bondingmaterial” may also include ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes(including single or double-sided adhesive tapes), staples orcombinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials would secure theends of the material while other bonding materials may bind thecircumference of a cover, or a sleeve, or, alternatively and/or inaddition, the bonding materials would secure overlapping folds in thematerial and/or sleeve. Another way to secure the cover and/or sleeve isto heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of thematerial. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron ofsufficient heat to heat seal the material.

Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bondingmaterial 27. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate,acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold sealadhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause aresidue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much morerapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles andreducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect theseal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material toform and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover orflower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easilywith minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. Thischaracteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitiveadhesive.

The term “bonding material” when used herein also includes any heat orchemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or otherelectrical materials, chemical welding materials, magnetic materials,mechanical or barb-type fastening materials or clamps, curl-typecharacteristics of the film or materials incorporated in material whichcan cause the material to take on certain shapes, cling films, slots,grooves, shrinkable materials and bands, curl materials, springs, andany type of welding method which may weld portions of the material toitself or to the pot, or to both the material itself and the pot.

Description of FIGS. 9-12

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a decorative preformed flower potcover 110 having a texture or appearance 111 simulating the texture orappearance of paper on at least a portion of one surface thereof isillustrated constructed from a sheet of polymeric material having atleast a portion of one surface thereof textured or modified to providethe sheet of polymeric material with a texture or appearance simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper. The decorative preformed flower potcover 110 is provided with a decorative appearance (i.e., the texture orappearance 111 simulating paper) while maintaining the structural andmechanical characteristics of the sheet of polymeric material from whichthe decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 is formed. The polymericmaterial having a texture or appearance simulating the texture orappearance of paper is a flexible material such as the sheet ofpolymeric material 10 having the texture or appearance 12 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper (FIG. 1), or a sheet of flexible material112 having a texture or appearance 113 simulating the texture orappearance of paper (FIG. 9A) or a flexible laminated sheet of material112 a having a texture or appearance 113 a simulating the texture orappearance of paper (FIG. 9B). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9A, thesheet of flexible material 112 having the texture or appearance 113simulating the texture or appearance of paper used in the constructionof the decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 comprises a sheet ofexpanded core polymeric material 114 having an upper surface 116, alower surface 118 and the texture or appearance 113 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper. The thickness of the sheet of expandedcore polymeric material 114 may vary as long as the sheet of expandedcore polymeric material 114 functions in accordance with the presentlydisclosed and claimed inventive concept(s). Generally, the sheet ofexpanded core polymeric material 114 will have a thickness in the rangeof from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil, and desirably in the range offrom about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mil.

The sheet of expanded core polymeric material 114 is provided with acoating of an acrylic heat sealable lacquer 120 disposed on at least oneof the upper and lower surfaces 116 and 118 thereof. It should beunderstood, however, that the sheet of flexible material 112 is notlimited to being the sheet of expanded core polymeric film 114 havingthe texture or appearance 113 simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper; rather, the sheet of flexible material 112 can be any flexiblepolymeric material or flexible laminated material, such as the polymericmaterial 10 or the laminated polymeric material 112 a, which can bemodified or textured so that at least one surface of such polymericmaterial or laminated material is provided with a finish or texturesimulating paper in appearance while maintaining the structural andmechanical characteristics of such polymeric or laminated material.

As previously stated, the modification of the polymeric material orlaminated polymeric material, such as the sheet of polymeric material10, the sheet of flexible laminated polymeric material 112 a, or thesheet of expanded core polymeric film 114 to provide the flexiblematerial with the desired matte or textured finish can be accomplishedby printing a desired pattern on the polymeric material and thereafterlaminating a matte material, such as a translucent polymeric film, overthe printed pattern. To further enhance the texture or appearance of thepolymeric material so that the polymeric material assimilates thetexture or appearance of paper, the matte material may or may not have aplurality of spatially disposed holes extending therethrough. A matte ortextured finish can also be produced by printing a polymeric materialwith a matted (i.e., dull finish) ink, by lacquering at least onesurface of the polymeric material with a dull finish lacquer or amatting lacquer, by embossing the polymeric material to provide anembossed pattern simulating the texture or appearance of paper, or byembossing and printing the polymeric material to provide embossed andprinted patterns wherein the embossed and printed patterns may be inregistry, out of registry or wherein a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are in registry and a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns are out of registry. In addition, a matte or texturedfinish capable a providing the flexible polymeric material with atexture or appearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper canbe achieved by extruding a polymeric resin onto a matted or texturedchill roll to produce the expanded core polymeric material, or bylaminating a second sheet of material to the polymeric material, or bythe use of selected pigments.

The sheet of flexible material 112 having the texture or appearance 113simulating paper (FIG. 9A) or the sheet of flexible laminated material112 a having the texture or appearance 113 a simulating the texture orappearance of paper (FIG. 9B) may vary in color. Further, the sheet offlexible material 112 or the sheet of flexible laminated material 112 amay be provided with other decorative patterns or designs in addition tothe matting, texturing, flocking, application of lacquers or foamableinks, or embossing employed to impart a texture or appearance simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper to the sheet of flexible material112. For example, the sheet of flexible material 112 or the sheet offlexible laminated material 112 a may be provided with a printed patternand/or an embossed pattern in addition to the texture or appearance 113or 113 a simulating the texture or appearance of paper, and whenprovided in combination, the printed and embossed patterns may be inregistry or out of registry with one another, or a portion of theprinted and embossed patterns may be in registry with one another and aportion of the printed and embossed patterns may be out of registry withone another.

When the sheet of polymeric material, such as the sheet of flexiblepolymeric material 112, is formed into the decorative preformed flowerpot cover 110, a plurality of overlapping folds 122 are formed, and atleast a portion of the overlapping folds 122 are connected to adjacentlydisposed portions of the decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 viathe acrylic heat sealable lacquer 120.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the decorative preformed flower pot cover110 has a base 124 having an open upper end 125, a lower end 126, and anouter peripheral surface 128. An opening 130 intersects the open upperend 125 of the base 124 of the decorative preformed flower pot cover110, forming an inner peripheral surface 132 which defines andencompasses a retaining space 133 within which a flower pot 134containing a floral grouping 136 may be disposed in a manner well knownin the art (FIG. 11). The decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 isfurther provided with a decorative border 138 which extends outwardlyfrom the open upper end 125 of the base 124. The decorative border 138is provided with an outer peripheral surface 139 and an inner peripheralsurface 141.

In another embodiment, a sheet of flexible material 112 a (FIG. 9B) isused in the construction of the decorative preformed flower pot cover110. The sheet of flexible material 112 a is a laminated material whichcomprises a first sheet of material 114 a having an upper surface 116 aand a lower surface 118 a, and a second sheet of material 120 a. Atleast a portion of one surface of one of the first sheet of material 114a and the second sheet of material 120 a is modified to provide thesheet of flexible material 112 a with the desired texture or appearance113 a simulating the texture or appearance of paper. The sheet offlexible laminated material 112 a having the texture or appearance 113 asimulating the texture or appearance of paper can be produced bylaminating two or more sheets of polymeric film (such as two or moresheets of polypropylene film or a sheet of polypropylene film and asheet of expanded core polymeric film, such as expanded corepolypropylene film), or by laminating a polymeric film (such aspolypropylene film or an expanded core polymeric film) with a sheet ofmetallized film, foil and the like wherein at least one surface of thesheet of laminated material 112 a is textured or modified to simulatepaper in appearance. Desirably, the first sheet of material 114 a is anexpanded core polymeric film and the second sheet of material 120 a is asubstantially water impervious polymeric film. The sheet of flexiblelaminated material 112 a is provided with the texture or appearance 113a simulating the texture or appearance of paper on at least a portion ofone surface thereof while maintaining the structural and mechanicalcharacteristics of the polymeric film(s) from which the sheet offlexible laminated material 112 a is formed.

The first sheet of material 114 a desirably has a thickness of fromabout 0.5 mil to about 10 mil, and more desirably from about 0.6 mil toabout 1.25 mil, and the second sheet of material 120 a desirably has athickness of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil, and more desirably fromabout 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mil. The second sheet or material 120 a canbe laminated to the first sheet of material 114 a with a coloredadhesive so as to impart a desired color to the laminated sheet offlexible material 112 a. While the thickness of the sheet of flexiblematerial 112 a can vary widely and will generally depend on thethickness of the first sheet of material 114 a and the thickness of thesecond sheet of material 120 a, desirable results can be obtained wherethe sheet of flexible material 112 a has a thickness in the range offrom about 1 mil to about 20 mil, and more desirably from about 1.2 milto about 2.5 mil.

As previously stated, the decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 maybe constructed of the sheet of polymeric material 10 having the textureor appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance of paper (FIG. 1),or of the sheet of the flexible material 112 having the texture orappearance 113 simulating paper (FIG. 9A), or of the laminated sheet ofthe flexible material 112 a having the texture or appearance 113 asimulating the texture or appearance of paper (FIG. 9B). Desirably, atleast a portion of one surface of one of the base 124 and the decorativeborder 138 of the decorative, preformed flower pot cover 110 is providedwith the texture or appearance 111 simulating the texture or appearanceof paper. For example, the texture or appearance 111 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper may be provided on at least a portion ofthe outer peripheral surface 128 of the base 124 or on at least aportion of one of the outer peripheral surface 139 and the innerperipheral surface 141 of the decorative border 138, or the texture orappearance 111 simulating the texture or appearance of paper may beprovided on a combination thereof.

The decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 so formed will have aplurality of overlapping folds 122 formed on the base 124 thereof, atleast a portion thereof being connected so that the decorative preformedflower pot cover 110 may be substantially flattened and then unflattenedto assume the original state of the decorative preformed flower potcover 110. A substantial portion of the overlapping folds 122 extendover different distances and at various and arbitrary angles. Thedecorative border 138 of the decorative preformed flower pot cover 110is substantially free of permanently connected overlapping folds. Ifdesired, the decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 can be formed ofa plurality of sheets of the same and/or different types of material.

The method and apparatus employed to form the decorative preformedflower pot cover 110 having the texture or appearance 111 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper is substantially identical whether oneuses one or more sheets of polymeric material 10 (FIG. 1), or one ormore sheets of flexible polymeric material 112 (FIG. 9A), or one or moresheets of flexible material 112 a (FIG. 9B), or a combination of suchsheets of material. Thus, only the formation of the decorative preformedflower pot cover 110 having the texture or appearance 111 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper using the sheet of flexible polymericmaterial 112 of FIG. 9A will be described in detail hereinafter.

The decorative preformed flower pot cover 110 may be formed using aconventional mold system 140 comprising a male mold 142 and a femalemold 144 having a mold cavity 146 for matingly receiving the male mold142 (FIG. 12). The sheet of flexible polymeric material 112 having thetexture or appearance 113 simulating the texture or appearance of paperis positioned between the male and female molds 142 and 144,respectively. Movement of the male mold 142 in the direction 148 andinto the mold cavity 146 forces the sheet of flexible polymeric material112 to be disposed about the portion of the male mold 142 disposed inthe mold cavity 146 of the female mold 144 and thereby forms the sheetof flexible polymeric material 112 into the preformed decorative flowerpot cover 110 having the texture or appearance 111 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper (FIGS. 10 and 11). Further, in accordancewith the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s), thedecorative preformed flower pot cover 110 constructed from the materialsdescribed herein above may have a bonding material disposed upon aportion thereof.

Methods for forming such preformed decorative pot covers are well knownin the art. Two methods of forming such covers are described in U.S.Pat. No. 4,773,182 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,721, each of which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

Description of FIGS. 13-19

Shown in FIG. 13 is a decorative cover designated therein by the generalreference numeral 160 which comprises a flexible bag or sleeve 162 ofunitary construction having a texture or appearance 163 simulating thetexture or appearance of paper on at least a portion of one surfacethereof in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s). The sleeve 162 may be used as a decorative cover for afloral grouping or a flower pot. The sleeve 162 initially comprises aflexible flat collapsed piece of polymeric material which is openable inthe form of a tube or sleeve. Such sleeves are well known in the floralindustry. Further, in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s), the decorative cover 160 can beconstructed of the sheet of polymeric material 10 (FIG. 1), or the sheetof flexible polymeric material 112 (FIG. 9A), or the sheet of laminatedflexible polymeric material 112 a (FIG. 9B) whereby at least a portionof one surface of the sleeve 162, preferably an outer peripheral surface164 of the sleeve 162, has been modified to provide with sleeve 162 withthe texture or appearance 163 simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper, as previously described herein. The sleeve 162 is provided with adecorative appearance (i.e., the texture or appearance 163 simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper) while maintaining the structural andmechanical characteristics of the polymeric material from which thesleeve 162 is formed.

The sleeve 162 has an upper end 166, a lower end 168 and the outerperipheral surface 164. The sleeve 162 may be tapered outwardly from thelower end 168 toward a larger diameter at its upper end 166. In itsflattened state the sleeve 162 generally has an overall trapezoidal ormodified trapezoidal shape, and when opened is substantiallyfrusto-conical in configuration. It will be appreciated, however, thatthe sleeve 162 may comprise variations on the aforementioned shapes ormay comprise significantly altered shapes such as square or rectangular,wherein the sleeve 162 when opened has a cylindrical form, as long asthe sleeve 162 functions in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s) in the manner described herein. The sleeve162 (or any other sleeve disclosed herein) may have an angular orcontoured shape.

The sleeve 162 has an opening 170 at the upper end 166 and may be openat the lower end 168, or closed with a bottom at the lower end 168. Thesleeve 162 also has an inner peripheral surface 172 which, when thesleeve 162 is opened, defines and encompasses an inner retaining space174. When the lower end 168 of the sleeve 162 has a closed lower end168, a portion of the lower end 168 may be inwardly folded to form oneor more gussets (not shown) for allowing the lower portion of the innerretaining space 174 to be expandable, for example, for receiving thecircular bottom of a pot or growing medium.

The sleeve 162 is generally frusto-conically shaped, but the sleeve 162may be, by way of example but not by way of limitation, cylindrical,frusto-conical, a combination of both frusto-conical and cylindrical, orany other shape, as long as the sleeve 162 functions as described hereinas noted above. Further, the sleeve 162 may comprise any shape, whethergeometric, non-geometric, asymmetrical and/or fanciful as long as itfunctions in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s). The sleeve 162 may also be equipped with drainholes (if having a closed bottom) or side ventilation holes (not shown),or can be made from gas permeable or impermeable materials.

The material from which the sleeve 162 is constructed is the same aspreviously described above for the sheet of polymeric material 10 havingthe texture or appearance 12 simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper, or the sheet of polymeric material 112 or 112 a having thetexture or appearance 113 or 113 a, respectively, simulating the textureor appearance of paper. Any thickness of polymeric material may beutilized in accordance with the presently disclosed and claimedinventive concept(s) as long as the sleeve 162 may be formed asdescribed herein, is provided with the texture or appearance 163simulating the texture or appearance of paper, and as long as the formedsleeve 162 may contain at least a portion of a flower pot or a floralgrouping, as described herein. Additionally, an insulating material suchas bubble film, preferable as one of two or more layers, can be utilizedin order to provide additional protection for the item, such as a floralgrouping, contained therein.

In FIG. 14 the sleeve 162 is illustrated having the texture orappearance 163 simulating the texture or appearance of paper provided onat least a portion of the outer peripheral surface 164 of the sleeve162. A floral grouping 176 is disposed within the inner retaining space174 of the sleeve 162. Generally, an upper or bloom portion 178 of thefloral grouping 176 is exposed substantially adjacent the opening 170 ofthe sleeve 162 and a lower or stem portion 180 of the floral grouping176 is exposed substantially adjacent the lower end 168 of the sleeve162. Either end of the sleeve 162 may be closed about the floralgrouping 176. Generally, a portion of the sleeve 162 is tightened abouta portion of the stem portion 180 of the floral grouping 176 for holdingthe decorative cover 160 about the floral grouping 176. For example, thesleeve 162 may be held by a tie 182 tied about the sleeve 162 such as isshown in FIG. 14. Other methods for binding the sleeve 162 about thefloral grouping 176 may be employed such as the bonding materialsdescribed elsewhere herein. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, adecorative cover 160 a is shown which comprises a sleeve 162 a having atexture or appearance 163 a simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper on at least a portion of one surface thereof and a cinching tab184 having a bonding material 186 disposed upon a surface thereof. Thecinching tab 184 can be used to gather portions of the sleeve 162 atogether about the stem portion 180 of the floral grouping 176 as shownin FIG. 16 for holding the sleeve 162 a tightly about the floralgrouping 176.

Similarly, it may generally be desired to use the sleeve 162 as adecorative cover for a flower pot (not shown). The flower pot willgenerally contain a botanical item or plant. The flower pot can bedeposited into the open sleeve 162 in a manner well known in the art,such as manually wherein the sleeve 162 is opened by hand and the flowerpot deposited therein.

As noted above, a bonding material may be disposed on a portion of thesleeve 162 or any sleeve described herein to assist in holding thesleeve 162 to the flower pot when the flower pot is disposed within thesleeve 162 or to assist in closing the upper end 166 of the sleeve 162or adhering the sleeve 162 to the flower pot after the flower pot hasbeen disposed therein, as will be discussed in further detail below.

It will be understood that the bonding material, if present, may bedisposed as a strip or block on a surface of the sleeve 162. The bondingmaterial may also be disposed upon either the outer peripheral surface164 or the inner peripheral surface 162 of the sleeve 162, as well asupon the flower pot. Further, the bonding material may be disposed asspots of bonding material, or in any other geometric, non-geometric,asymmetric, or fanciful form, and in any pattern including coveringeither the entire inner peripheral surface 172 and/or outer peripheralsurface 164 of the sleeve 162 and/or the flower pot. The bondingmaterial may be covered by a cover or release strip which can be removedprior to the use of the sleeve 162 or flower pot. The bonding materialcan be applied by methods known to those of ordinary skill in their art.One method for disposing a bonding material, in this case an adhesive,is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,637, issued to Weder et al. on May12, 1993, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

As noted above, a bonding material may be disposed on at least a portionof the inner peripheral surface 172 of the sleeve 162, or,alternatively, the bonding material may be disposed on the outerperipheral surface of a flower pot contained within the sleeve 162,while the sleeve 162 may be free of the bonding material. In a furtheralternative, the bonding material may be disposed both on at least aportion of the flower pot as well as upon at least a portion of theinner peripheral surface 172 of the sleeve 162. In addition, a portionof the bonding material may also be disposed on the outer peripheralsurface 164 of the sleeve 162 as well. It will be understood that thebonding material may be disposed in a solid section of bonding material.The bonding material, when present, is disposed on the sleeve 162 and/orflower pot by any method known in the art.

Certain versions of sleeves described herein may be used in combinationwith a preformed pot cover. For example, a preformed pot cover may beapplied to the pot, then the covered pot wrapped or disposed within asleeve. Either the cover or the sleeve, or both, have a texture orappearance simulating the texture or appearance of paper. Examples ofsleeves which may be used in accordance with the presently disclosed andclaimed inventive concept(s) are shown in the specification of U.S. Pat.No. 5,625,979, issued to Weder on May 6, 1997, the specification ofwhich is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Equipment and devices for forming sleeves are commercially available,and well known in the art.

Shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is another embodiment of a decorative cover 160b comprising a sleeve 162 b having a texture or appearance 163 bsimulating the texture or appearance of paper constructed from thepolymeric material 10, or the flexible polymeric material 112 or 112 ain accordance with the presently disclosed and claimed inventiveconcept(s). The sleeve 162 b is provided with a decorative appearance(i.e., the texture or appearance 163 b simulating the texture orappearance of paper) while maintaining the structural and mechanicalcharacteristics of the polymeric material from which the sleeve 162 b isformed. The sleeve 162 b has a “detaching” element in predeterminedareas for detaching a portion of the sleeve 162 b. The sleeve 162 bgenerally initially comprises a flexible flat collapsed piece ofmaterial which is openable in the form of a tube or sleeve. The sleeve162 b is constructed of the same material and in the same way as thesleeve 162 described previously herein and may be described exactly thesame as the sleeve 162 described herein except for the additionalelements described hereinafter.

The sleeve 162 b has an upper end 166 b, a lower end 168 b, and an outerperipheral surface 164 b. The sleeve 162 b has an opening 170 b at theupper end 166 b thereof, and the sleeve 162 b may be open at the lowerend 168 b or closed with a bottom at the lower end 168 b. In a flattenedstate, the sleeve 162 b has a first side 171 and a second side 173. Thesleeve 162 b also has an inner peripheral surface 172 b which, when thesleeve 162 b is opened, defines and encompasses an inner retaining space174 b as shown in FIG. 18. When the lower end 168 b of the sleeve 162 bhas a closed bottom, a portion of the lower end 168 b may be inwardlyfolded to form one or more gussets (not shown) for permitting a circularbottom of an object such as a flower pot 187, to be disposed in theinner retaining space 174 b of the sleeve 162 b.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the sleeve 162 b is demarcated into anupper portion 188 and a lower portion 190. The lower portion 190 of thesleeve 162 b is generally sized to contain the flower pot 187. The upperportion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is sized to substantially surround andencompass a plant 192 contained in the flower pot 187 disposed withinthe lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b. The sleeve 162 b isdemarcated into the upper portion 188 and the lower portion 190 by adetaching element 194 for enabling the detachment of the upper portion188 of the sleeve 162 b from the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b.In the present version, the detaching element 194 is a plurality ofgenerally laterally-oriented or alternatingly diagonally-orientedperforations which extend circumferentially across the outer peripheralsurface 164 b of the sleeve 162 b from the first side 171 to the secondside 173.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the lower portion 190 of thesleeve 162 b further comprises a base portion 196 and a skirt portion198. The base portion 196 of the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 bcomprises that part of the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b which,when the flower pot 187 is placed into the lower portion 190 of thesleeve 162 b, has an inner peripheral surface 172 b which issubstantially adjacent to and surrounds an outer peripheral surface 199of the flower pot 187. The skirt portion 198 of the lower portion 190 ofthe sleeve 162 b comprises that part of the lower portion 190 of thesleeve 162 b which extends beyond an open upper end 201 of the flowerpot 187 and adjacent at least a portion of the plant 192 containedwithin the flower pot 187 and which is left to freely extend at anangle, inwardly or outwardly, from the base portion 196 when the upperportion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is detached from the lower portion 190of the sleeve 162 b by actuation of the detaching element 194.

In the intact sleeve 162 b, the skirt portion 198 of the lower portion190 of the sleeve 162 b comprises an upper peripheral edge congruentwith the detaching element 194 which is connected to a lower peripheraledge, also congruent with the detaching element 194, of the upperportion 188 of the sleeve 162 b. In FIGS. 17 and 18, the upperperipheral edge of the skirt portion 198 of the lower portion 190 of thesleeve 162 b is congruent with a series of alternatinglydiagonally-oriented lines of perforations which together form a zig-zagand comprise the detaching element 194. The upper portion 188 of thesleeve 162 b may also have an additional detaching element 200 indicatedas a plurality of vertical perforations for facilitating removal of theupper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b and which are disposed more orless vertically therein extending between the detaching element 194 ofthe sleeve 162 b.

The upper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is thereby separable from thelower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b by tearing the upper portion 188along both the detaching element 200 and the detaching element 194,thereby separating the upper portion 188 from the lower portion 190 ofthe sleeve 162 b. The lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b remainsdisposed as the base portion 196 about the flower pot 187 and as theskirt portion 198 about the plant 192 forming a decorative cover 202 asshown in FIG. 19 which substantially surrounds and encompasses theflower pot 187 and the plant 192 contained therein. At least a portionof an outer peripheral surface 164 b of the lower portion 190 of thesleeve 162 b, for example, the base and skirt portions 196 and 198, maybe modified to provide the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b withthe texture or appearance 163 b simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper, while the upper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b is leftunmodified or is provided with a printed pattern; or at least a portionof one surface of both the upper portion 188 and the lower portion 190may be provided with a modified or textured surface so the both theupper portion 188 and the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 isprovided with the texture or appearance 163 b simulating paper. When theupper portion 188 is detached, the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 bremains about the flower pot 176 b and thereby forms a decorative coverabout the flower pot 176 b which has the appearance of paper.

“Detaching element” as used herein includes any element, or combinationof elements, or features, such as, but not by way of limitation,perforations, tear strips, zippers, and any other devices or elements ofthis nature known in the art, or any combination thereof. Therefore,while perforations are shown and described in detail herein, it will beunderstood that tear strips, zippers, or any other “detaching elements”known in the art, or any combination thereof, could be substitutedtherefor and/or used therewith.

In a general method of use of the sleeve 162 b as the decorative cover202 for the flower pot 187, an operator provides the sleeve 162 b andthe flower pot 187 having the plant 192 disposed in a growing medium 203contained within the flower pot 187. The operator then disposes theflower pot 187 having the plant 192 contained therein into the sleeve162 b by opening the sleeve 162 b at end the upper 166 thereof andassuring both that the opening 170 b therein is in an open condition,and that the inner peripheral surface 172 b of the sleeve 162 b issomewhat expanded outward as well, as shown in FIG. 18. The operatorthen manually or automatically disposes the flower pot 187 into theopening 170 b in the sleeve 162 b, the flower pot 187 being disposedgenerally through the upper portion 188 of the sleeve 162 b intogenerally the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b, the flower pot 187remaining in the lower portion 190 of the sleeve 162 b, permitting thesleeve 162 b to substantially surround and tightly encompass the flowerpot 187. It will be understood that alternatively, the sleeve 162 b maybe provided with an extension (not shown), and the sleeve 162 b may bedisposed on rods or wickets, and the flower pot 187 may then be disposedin the sleeve 162 b either before or after the sleeve 162 b has beenremoved from the wickets.

Description of FIGS. 20A-20C

Referring now to FIG. 20A, designated generally by the reference numeral210 is a polymeric ribbon material having a texture or appearance 212simulating the texture or appearance of paper for forming decorativebows and for wrapping items, wherein the polymeric ribbon material 210maintains the structural and mechanical characteristics of the polymerfrom which the polymeric ribbon material 210 is formed. That is, atleast one surface of a sheet or web of polymeric material (not shown) ismodified to provide a matte or textured finish which provides thetexture or appearance 212 simulating the texture or appearance of paper.The modification of the sheet or web of polymeric material (not shown)to provide the polymeric ribbon material 210 with the matte or texturedfinish which provides the texture or appearance 212 simulating paper canbe accomplished in several ways. For example, the polymeric ribbonmaterial 210 having the matte or textured finish which provides thetexture or appearance 212 simulating the texture or appearance of papercan be produced by printing a sheet or web of polymeric material with amatted (i.e., dull finish) ink, by lacquering at least one surface ofthe sheet or web of polymeric material with a dull finish lacquer or amatting lacquer, by embossing the sheet or web of polymeric material toprovide an embossed pattern simulating the texture or appearance ofpaper, or by flocking the sheet or web of polymeric material, or byapplication of a foamable lacquer or foamable ink to the sheet or web ofpolymeric material, or by embossing and printing the sheet or web ofpolymeric material to provide embossed and printed patterns wherein theembossed and printed patterns may be in registry, out of registry orwherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are in registryand a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are out of registry.In addition, a matte or textured finish capable of providing the sheetor web of polymeric material with the texture or appearance 212simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be achieved byextruding a polymeric resin onto a matted or textured chill roll.Thereafter, the sheet or web of material having the texture orappearance 212 simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be cutin a conventional manner to provide the polymeric ribbon material 210having the texture or appearance 212 simulating the texture orappearance of paper.

In addition to providing the sheet or web of polymeric material with thedesired matte or textured finish which provides the texture orappearance 212 simulating the texture or appearance of paper, the sheetor web of polymeric material may contain additional embossed patternsand/or printed patterns which enhance the overall aestheticcharacteristics of the polymeric ribbon material 210 produced from thesheet or web of polymeric material. When provided in combination, suchembossed and printed patterns may be in register with one another, outof register with one another, or a portion of the embossed and printedpatterns may be in register with one another and a portion of theembossed and printed patterns may be out of register with one another.Further, the embossed and printed patterns may be positioned on thesheet or web of polymeric material such that when the sheet or web ofpolymeric material is cut into the polymeric ribbon material 210, theembossed and printed patterns lie within the boundaries of the polymericribbon material 210, i.e., between opposite sides of the polymericribbon material 210, or the embossed and printed patterns may berandomly positioned on the sheet or web of polymeric material such thatwhen the sheet or web of polymeric material is cut into the polymericribbon material 210, the embossed and printed patterns are randomlypositioned on the polymeric ribbon material 210.

Any polymeric material capable of being textured or otherwise modifiedto provide the polymeric material with the texture or appearance 212simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be employed in theformulation of the polymeric ribbon material 210. For example, thepolymeric material employed to produce the polymeric ribbon material 210can be polypropylene film having a thickness of from about 0.1 mil toabout 30 mil, and more desirably of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil,or an expanded core polymeric film having a thickness of from about 0.5mil to about 10 mil.

Referring now to FIG. 20B, designated generally by the reference numeral220 is another embodiment of a polymeric ribbon material for formingdecorative bows and for wrapping items. The polymeric ribbon material220 is a laminated material comprising a first web or sheet of material222 having a thickness of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil, and moredesirably from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mil, and a second web orsheet of material 224 having a thickness of from about 0.5 mil to about10 mil, and more desirably from about 0.6 mil to about 1.25 mil. Thelaminated material can be produced by laminating two or more sheets ofpolymeric film (such as two or more sheets of polypropylene film or asheet of polypropylene film and a sheet of expanded core polymeric film,such as expanded core polypropylene film), or by laminating a polymericfilm (such as polypropylene film or an expanded core polymeric film)with a sheet of metallized film, foil and the like wherein at least onesurface of the laminated material is textured or modified to simulatethe texture or appearance of paper. The second web or sheet of material224 is desirably laminated to the first web or sheet of material 222with a colored adhesive so as to impart a desired color to the polymericribbon material 220. If desired the polymeric ribbon material 220 may betreated or otherwise processed to provide the polymeric ribbon material220 with a matte or textured finish which provides a texture orappearance 226 simulating the texture or appearance of paper, while thepolymeric ribbon material 220 maintains the structural and mechanicalcharacteristics of the polymer from which the polymeric ribbon material220 is formed. That is, a matte or textured finish which provides thetexture or appearance 226 simulating paper in texture or appearance canbe printed on at least a portion of one surface of the first web orsheet of material 222 and thereafter the second web or sheet of material224 (which in this case is desirably a matte material of translucentpolymeric film) is laminated to the first web or sheet of material 222to provide the polymeric ribbon material 220 with the texture orappearance 226 simulating the texture or appearance of paper. To furtherenhance the texture or appearance 226 simulating the texture orappearance of paper of the polymeric ribbon material 220, the second webor sheet of material 224 may or may not have a plurality of spatiallydisposed holes extending therethrough. The matte or textured finishwhich provides the texture or appearance 226 simulating the texture orappearance of paper can be produced by printing at least one of thefirst and second webs or sheets of material 222 and 224 with a matted(i.e., dull finish) ink, by lacquering at least one surface of at leastone of the first and second webs or sheets of material 222 and 224 witha dull finish lacquer or a matting lacquer, by flocking at least one ofthe first and second webs or sheets of material 222 and 224, byapplication of a foamable lacquer or foamable ink to at least one of thefirst and second webs or sheets of material 222 and 224, by embossing atleast one of the first and second webs or sheets of material 222 and 224to provide an embossed pattern simulating the appearance and texture ofpaper, or by embossing and printing at least one of the first and secondwebs or sheets of material 222 and 224 to provide embossed and printedpatterns wherein the embossed and printed patterns may be in registry,out of registry or wherein a portion of the embossed and printedpatterns are in registry and a portion of the embossed and printedpatterns are out of registry. In addition, a matte or textured finishcapable of providing the polymeric ribbon material 220 with the textureor appearance 226 simulating the texture or appearance of paper can beachieved by extruding the resin used to produce one of the first andsecond webs or sheets of material 222 and 224 onto a matted or texturedchill roll.

In addition to providing the first web or sheet of material 222 and/orthe second web or sheet of material 224 with the desired matte ortextured finish which provides the texture or appearance 226 simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper, at least a portion of one surface ofat least one of the first web or sheet of material 222 and the secondweb or sheet of material 224 may contain additional embossed and/orprinted patterns which enhance with overall aesthetic characteristics ofthe polymeric ribbon material 220 produced from the first and secondwebs or sheets of material 222 and 224. When provided in combination,such embossed and printed patterns may be in register with one another,out of register with one another, or a portion of the embossed andprinted patterns may be in register with one another and a portion ofthe embossed and printed patterns may be out of register with oneanother. Further, the embossed and printed patterns may be positioned onthe first and/or second webs of material 222 and 224 such that when thelaminated material produced therefrom is cut into the polymeric ribbonmaterial 220, the embossed and/or printed patterns lie within theboundaries of the polymeric ribbon material 220, i.e., between oppositesides of the polymeric ribbon material 220, or the embossed and/orprinted patterns may be randomly positioned on the first and/or secondsheets or webs of material 222 and 224 such that when the laminatedmaterial produced therefrom is cut into the polymeric ribbon material220, the embossed and/or printed patterns are randomly positioned on thepolymeric ribbon material 220.

Referring now to FIG. 20C, designated generally by the reference numeral230 is another embodiment of a polymeric ribbon material for formingdecorative bows and for wrapping items. The polymeric ribbon material230 comprises a polymeric film 232 having an upper surface 234 and alower surface 236. An acrylic heat sealable lacquer 238 can applied toat least one of the upper and lower surfaces 234 and 236 of thepolymeric film 232, such as the lower surface 236 of the polymeric film232, and the upper surface 234 of the polymeric film 232 is desirablymodified to provide the polymeric ribbon material 230 with a matte ortextured finish which provides a texture or appearance 240 simulatingthe texture or appearance of paper, while the polymeric ribbon material230 maintains the structural and mechanical characteristics of thepolymer from which the polymeric ribbon material 230 is formed. Themodification of the polymeric film 232 to provide the polymeric ribbonmaterial 230 with the texture or appearance 240 simulating the textureor appearance of paper can be accomplished in several ways. For example,the polymeric ribbon material 230 having the matte or textured finishcan be produced by printing the polymeric film 232 with a matted (i.e.,dull finish) ink, by lacquering at least one of the upper and lowersurfaces 234 and 236 of the polymeric film 232 with a dull finishlacquer or a matting lacquer, by flocking the polymeric film 232, byapplication of a foamable lacquer or foamable ink to the polymeric film232, by embossing the polymeric film 232 to provide an embossed patternsimulating the texture or appearance of paper, or by embossing andprinting the polymeric film 232 to provide embossed and printed patternswherein the embossed and printed patterns may be in registry, out ofregistry or wherein a portion of the embossed and printed patterns arein registry and a portion of the embossed and printed patterns are outof registry. In addition, a matte or textured finish capable ofproviding the polymeric film 232 with the texture or appearance 240simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be achieved byextruding a polymeric resin onto a matted or textured chill roll.Thereafter, the polymeric film 232 having the texture or appearance 240simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be cut in aconventional manner to provide the polymeric ribbon material 230.

In addition to providing the polymeric film 232 with the desired matteor textured finish which provides the texture or appearance 240simulating the texture or appearance of paper, at least a portion of onesurface of the polymeric film 232 may contain additional embossed and/orprinted patterns which enhance with overall aesthetic characteristics ofthe polymeric ribbon material 230 produced from the polymeric film 232.When provided in combination, such embossed and printed patterns may bein register with one another, out of register with one another, or aportion of the embossed and printed patterns may be in register with oneanother and a portion of the embossed and printed patterns may be out ofregister with one another. Further, the embossed and printed patternsmay be positioned on the polymeric film 232 such that when the polymericfilm 232 is cut into the polymeric ribbon material 230, the embossedand/or printed patterns lie within the boundaries of the polymericribbon material 230, i.e., between opposite sides of the polymericribbon material 230, or the embossed and/or printed patterns may berandomly positioned on the polymeric film 232 such that when thepolymeric film 232 is cut into the polymeric ribbon material 230, theembossed and/or printed patterns are randomly positioned on thepolymeric ribbon material 230.

Any polymeric film capable of being textured or otherwise modified toprovide the polymeric material with the texture or appearance 240simulating the texture or appearance of paper can be employed in theformulation of the polymeric ribbon material 230. For example, thepolymeric material 232 employed to produce the polymeric ribbon material230 can be polypropylene film having a thickness of from about 0.1 milto about 30 mil, and more desirably of from about 0.5 mil to about 10mil, or an expanded core polymeric film having a thickness of from about0.6 mil to about 10 mil.

Changes may be made in the construction and the operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps orthe sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in thefollowing claims.

1. A method for providing a decorative cover for a flower pot whereinthe decorative cover is provided with a texture and/or appearancesimulating the texture and/or appearance of paper on at least a portionthereof while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivityto water, humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative coverformed of paper, the method comprising the steps of: providing a flowerpot having an outer peripheral surface; providing a polymeric materialhaving an upper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of thelower surface of the polymeric material being modified to provide anappearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture ofpaper while exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity towater, humidity and pressure when compared to paper, wherein themodification to provide the texture and/or appearance simulating paperis selected from the group consisting of printing, embossing, texturing,matting, flocking, lacquering and combinations thereof; and forming thepolymeric material about the outer peripheral surface of the flower potto provide the decorative cover, wherein at least a portion of at leastone surface of the decorative cover is provided with the texture and/orappearance simulating the texture and/or appearance of paper whileexhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water andpressure when compared to a decorative cover formed of paper.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing a polymericmaterial, the polymeric material has a thickness in the range of fromabout 0.1 mil to about 30 mil.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thedecorative cover is provided with at least one of a printed pattern andan embossed pattern in addition to the texture and/or appearancesimulating the texture and/or appearance of paper.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the decorative cover is provided with printed andembossed patterns, and wherein the printed and embossed patterns are inregister with one another.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein thedecorative cover is provided with printed and embossed patterns, andwherein the printed and embossed patterns are out of register with oneanother.
 6. A method for providing a decorative preformed flower potcover having a texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/orappearance of paper wherein the decorative preformed flower pot cover issubstantially water impervious, the method comprising the steps of:providing a substantially water impervious polymeric material having anupper surface and a lower surface, at least a portion of the lowersurface of the polymeric material being modified to provide anappearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of paperwhile exhibiting improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water,humidity and pressure when compared to paper, wherein the modificationto provide the texture and/or appearance simulating paper is selectedfrom the group consisting of printing, embossing, texturing, matting,flocking, lacquering and combinations thereof; and forming thesubstantially water impervious polymeric material into a preformedflower pot cover comprising: a base having a closed lower end, an openupper end, an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface anda retaining space; a decorative border which extends from the open upperend of the base, the decorative border having an outer peripheralsurface and an inner peripheral surface; and wherein at least a portionof one of the outer peripheral surface of the base, the outer peripheralsurface of the decorative border and the inner peripheral surface of thedecorative border of the decorative preformed flower pot cover isprovided with the texture and/or appearance simulating the textureand/or appearance of paper while the decorative preformed flower potcover exhibits improved durability and decreased sensitivity to water,humidity and pressure when compared to a decorative preformed flower potcover formed of paper.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein, in the step ofproviding a substantially water impervious polymeric material, thepolymeric material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.1 mil toabout 30 mil.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein, in the step of formingthe substantially water impervious polymeric material into a decorativepreformed flower pot cover, the base is provided with a plurality ofoverlapping folds of which at least a portion are permanently connected.9. The method of claim 8, wherein the decorative border of thedecorative preformed flower pot cover is substantially free ofpermanently connected overlapping folds.
 10. The method of claim 6,wherein the decorative preformed flower pot cover is provided with atleast one of a printed pattern and an embossed pattern in addition tothe texture and/or appearance simulating the texture and/or appearanceof paper.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the decorative preformedflower pot cover is provided with printed and embossed patterns, andwherein the printed and embossed patterns are in register with oneanother.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the decorative preformedflower pot cover is provided with printed and embossed patterns, andwherein the printed and embossed patterns are out of register with oneanother.